Entering the 2019 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns were expected to reach heights they hadn’t reached before. 2018 was the year it all turned around for the luckless franchise. Changes in coaching personnel and some epic trades were supposed to be the key to their best season yet. But here they are at 2-5, about to play the lackluster 2-6 Denver Broncos. Both teams are struggling to stay afloat at this halfway mark. Let’s talk Cleveland Browns-Denver Broncos: key points.
Cleveland Browns-Denver Broncos: Key Points
Fans of both teams had high hopes. There were some reservations concerning the three-time Super Bowl-winning Broncos. And big expectations of the Browns who only last year broke their horrendous two-season losing streak. No one is at all surprised Denver is once again performing poorly with a quarterback past his prime at the helm and a coach who is only defense-minded. But Cleveland, with their refreshing new head coach (or so we thought), enviable trades and star quarterback are three games below .500. After eight weeks, this was not expected or acceptable.
Playing at Mile High is a challenge for most teams, but the Browns defeated the Broncos last year. However, it was only by one measly point. If asked before the 2019 season started who would win this upcoming matchup, most would’ve said Cleveland. Now, anything is possible. Let’s look at some key points.
Joe Flacco Is Not a Threat
John Elway makes questionable quarterback choices. This season is no different. With his usual desire of a tall quarterback and a strong arm, Flacco was just what he was looking for. Everyone laughed. Sure enough, he is another one of Elway’s “failed quarterback experiments” as cleveland.com‘s Ellis L. Williams says. Flacco ranks 24th in passer rating (86.0) and 22nd in QBR (47.8), 67.3 overall. Flacco doesn’t influence a game’s outcome. He’s not so terrible, yet doesn’t propel his team forward.
Denver’s Championship Offense Is Gone
Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was traded to the San Francisco 49ers last week. That’s the end of an era. Playing the last five seasons in Denver, he was part of the Super Bowl-winning team. No championship players remain. Courtland Sutton holds the reins now that Sanders is gone. In his rookie season, he caught 42 passes for 704 yards. This season, he has 36 grabs for 564 yards. It looks like he’s a suitable player to fill the shoes of Sanders as number one receiver. While not a threat alone, Cleveland’s Greedy Williams and Denzel Ward need to recognize Sutton is a playmaker.
Phillip Lindsay Is the New Star
On the rare occasions Denver has a big play, you can bet Phillip Lindsay is part of that. Lindsay ranks 11th in total yards from scrimmage among running backs (652). He’s a strong edge player and catches well. He has a smaller frame but averages 81 yards per game, mostly from between tackles. The Browns will need to keep an eye on him especially in backfield passes or space on screens.
Bradley Chubb Won’t Be Playing
The defense is missing Bradley Chubb, just when Denver’s defense was beginning to find itself. He’d recorded his first sack of the season right before tearing his ACL. Knee surgery means he is out for the season. The Broncos defense is ranking fifth in DVOA (-8.9 percent) but they would be generating more turnovers if Chubb was there to rush off the edge with Von Miller. Sans Chubb, the Browns won’t have much trouble focusing their attention on Miller.
Both Teams Have First-Year Head Coaches
Vic Fangio spent 23 years as an NFL defensive coordinator before his head-coaching position in Denver. With the Broncos built around defense, he seemed the perfect fit. It’s tempting to say he is failing at his new job. The Broncos may have lost six times but they were either one-score games or due to field goals in the final minutes. Meanwhile Freddie Kitchens lit a fire under the Browns in 2018, and his play-calling was a breath of fresh air. At 2-5, questions about whether he should’ve remained a coordinator have been raised, but time will tell.
The Browns defeated the Broncos by only one point last season. 2019 has been far from ideal for both teams. At this point, anything can happen and it’s impossible to even make a guess as to who will walk away with the win.
